24 Stocks Providing An Inflation Hedge With Increasing Dividends

With all the other investment strategies out there, why should investors consider dividend or income investing? There are a multitude of reasons to follow a dividend growth strategy. These include: investment stability, security of cash, continuous feedback, potential higher returns, low maintenance, et. al. But for me the most important reason is the inflation hedge that a growing income will provide in my retirement years.

Below are several companies building an inflation hedge for their shareholders by increasing their cash dividends:

NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU) engages in the petroleum additives and real estate development businesses. October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.75 cents per share on the common stock of the Corporation. The dividend is payable January 1, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.5%.

The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) engages in the acquisition, ownership, development, redevelopment, management, and leasing of regional and community shopping centers. October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.55 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on December 8, 2011 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 11, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 4.4%.

Weis Markets, Inc. (NYSE:WMK) engages in the retail sale of food in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.30 per share and declared a special one-time dividend of $1.00 per share. The dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of November 1, 2011, payable on November 21, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

Kennametal Inc. (NYSE:KMT) manufactures and supplies tooling, engineered components, and advanced materials consumed in production processes worldwide. October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable November 29, 2011 to shareowners of record as of the close of business on November 8, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.4%.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) operates as an independent petroleum refining and marketing company. October 27th the company increased its quarterly dividend 300% to $0.15 per share. the dividend is payable on December 14, 2011 to holders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

Home BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOMB) operates as a holding company for the Centennial Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking, and related financial products and services. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 48% to $0.08 per share. The dividend is payable December 7, 2011, to shareholders of record November 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.3%.

SureWest Communications (NASDAQ:SURW) provides telecommunications, digital video, Internet, data, and other facilities-based communications services in northern California, the greater Kansas City, and Kansas and Missouri areas. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), provides supplemental health and life insurance. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 10% to $0.33 per share. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX) owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 1.4% to $0.1850 per share. The dividend is payable December 1, 2011 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2011, and marks the thirty-ninth straight year that Middlesex Water has raised the dividend on its common stock. The yield based on the new payout is 4.1%.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC) engages in refining, transporting, and marketing petroleum products. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 12, 2011 to stockholders of record as of the close of business Nov. 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE:NEM) engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. October 26th the comapny increased its quarterly dividend 17% to $0.35 per share, an increase of 133% over the fourth quarter 2010 dividend. The dividend is payable on December 30, 2011, to holders of record at the close of business on December 8, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.1%.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BHLB) provides personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 2011 and payable on November 23, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.3%.

Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX) engages in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities, such as exploration and mine development. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.15 per share. The quarterly is payable on December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.3%.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.81 per share. The dividend is payable December 12, 2011, to holders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2011. The amount represents a 3.8% increase in the company's quarterly dividend and the second dividend increase in 2011. Combined, the two actions represent a 12.5% annual increase in the company’s quarterly dividend. Chevron has increased its annual dividend 24 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.0%.

RPC, Inc. (NYSE:RES) provides a range of oilfield services and equipment primarily to independent oil and gas companies engaged in the exploration, production, and development of oil and gas properties. October 26th the company increased its quarterly dividend 25% to $0.10 per share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Total System Services, Inc. (NYSE:TSS) provides electronic payment processing and other services to card-issuing and merchant acquiring institutions. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 42.9% to $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 15, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.0%.

UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF), a multi-bank holding company, provides banking and other financial services in the United States. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.1% to $0.205 per share. The dividend is payable on January 3, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2011. This is the eleventh dividend increase since July 2003 with a total quarterly dividend increase of 105.0 percent. The yield based on the new payout is 2.3%.

Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE) engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of complementary natural gas-related energy assets in the United States and Canada. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 7.7% to $0.28 per share. The dividend is is payable on December 12, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 11, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 3.9%.

RadioShack Corporation (NYSEARCA:RHS) engages in the retail sale of consumer electronic goods and services through its RadioShack store chain and kiosk operations. October 25th the company increased its annual dividend 100% to to $0.50 per share in 2011 and has changed the annual dividend payout to a quarterly payout. The annual cash dividend of $0.50 per share for 2011 is payable on Dec. 15, 2011, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 25, 2011, after which the dividend will be paid on a quarterly basis beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 4.3%.

V.F. Corporation (NYSE:VFC) designs and manufactures, or sources from independent contractors various apparel and footwear products primarily in the United States and Europe. October 25th the increased its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.72 per share. The dividend is payable on December 19, 2011 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 9, 2011. This marks the 39th consecutive year of higher dividend payments to shareholders. The yield based on the new payout is 2.2%.

American Electric Power Company (NYSE:AEP) engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power to retail customers. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.2% to $0.47 per share. This is the company's third dividend increase since April 2010. The dividend is payable Dec. 9, 2011, to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10, 2011, and is the company's 406th consecutive quarterly common stock cash dividend. AEP has paid a cash dividend on its common stock every quarter since July 1910. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is a real estate investment trust that engages in investment, ownership, and management of properties. It invests in the real estate markets across the globe. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.90 per share. The dividend is payable on November 30, 2011 to stockholders of record on November 16, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) provides diagnostic testing, information, and services in the United States and internationally. October 25th the company increased its quarterly dividend 70% to $0.17 per share. The dividend is payable on January 24, 2012, to shareholders of record on January 9, 2012. The yield based on the new payout is 1.2%.

MSC Industrial Direct Co. (NYSE:MSM) operates as a direct marketer and distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations products to industrial customers. October 24th the company increased its quarterly dividend 13.6% to $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable November 18, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 4, 2011. The yield based on the new payout is 1.5%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends; it is not a list of recommend buys. As always, due diligence should be performed before buying or selling any stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

We only use your contact details to reply to your request for more information.We do not sell the personal contact data you submit to anyone else.

Thank you for your interest in Seeking Alpha PROWe look forward to contacting you shortly for a conversation.

Thank you for your interest in Seeking Alpha PRO

Our PRO subscription service was created for fund managers, and the cost of the product is
prohibitive for most individual investors.
PRO Alerts is our flagship product for individual investors who want to be faster
and smarter about their stocks. To learn more about it, click here.
If you are an investment professional with over $1M AUM and received this message
in error, click here and you will be contacted shortly.

Thank you for your interest in Seeking Alpha PROWe look forward to contacting you when we have an individual investor product ready!